An Overview of Powerhead Choices
Available to the Reef Hobbyist


Introduction

Second only to lighting in importance to the maintenance of a modern reef aquarium is flow. For the majority of hobbyists, flow will be produced through the use of powerheads. Powerheads are made by many manufacturers and vary greatly in quality and design. For the purposes of this article, powerheads are classified as those pumps designed for in-tank use to produce current. The purpose of this review is to highlight the features of all brands/models of powerheads known at the time of this writing, and to explain some of the basic elements of powerhead design. After reading this article, the aquarist should be able to make an informed purchase when planning his/her next aquarium. Some powerheads featured will only be available in certain countries or voltages.

Some History

The powerhead was invented by Norbert Tunze in 1960 in Munich, Germany. While working as a radio and television technician, he was brought an Eheim pump for repair. At the time, Eheim was a well-known toy manufacturer and offered a centrifugal pump for use in powering fountains on model railroad sets. Tunze noted the pump added to the liveliness in his aquarium when he tested the repaired pump. At that time all pumps had a bottom intake and a top outlet; he decided that it should be possible to produce a pump specifically for the purpose of flow in the aquarium and this would necessitate a forward flow. Mr. Tunze patented the forward direction of flow which made his invention possible- the Tunze Turbelle 400. The first powerhead was called the Turbelle, from the combined German words "Turbine" and "Libelle"- German for dragonfly. The first powerhead, as we now generally call this group of pumps, used eight watts to pump 430l/h with a top-mounted air-cooled motor. Within the past 40 years tremendous advances have been made, including most recently the broad flow powerheads.

Fundamentals of Powerhead Design

Powerheads can be broken down into two formats: submersible and non-submersible. Submersible powerheads are simpler to make, cheaper and generally are the most frequently encountered. Non-submersible powerheads are sometimes chosen by the hobbyist because they add less bulk to the aquarium and produce very little heat. Submersible powerheads exist in two basic forms: synchronous and electronic. Non-submersible powerheads also exist in two basic forms: synchronous and asynchronous. In both cases synchronous means they run synchronously to mains frequency. A U.S. model powerhead would produce a rotation of 3600 rpm and a European model would produce a rotation of 3000 rpm. This is because the power is energizing an electromagnetic coil which is changing polarity at 60Hz or 50Hz which can also be said as 60 cycles per second or 50 cycles per second. This field in turn causes a permanent magnet to rotate and spin an impeller or propeller. Such pumps cannot be controlled in any way. It is not only impractical to control the Hz, but attempting to do so may destroy the motor coil, which was purposefully built to run on the given Hz pattern. For the non-submersible asynchronous powerhead a special motor construction is used that allows speed control as the pump is running asynchronously with the mains voltage. Usually, the rotor consists of numerous magnetized plates embedded in a material and a coil which is energized; the strength of the energized magnet controls the speed at which the rotor turns. The submersible electronic powerhead is controlled by a sophisticated computer system that controls the motor coil assembly and generates a rotation pattern also independent of mains frequency. To summarize:

 
Controllable:
Non-Controllable:
Submersible:
Electronic
Synchronous
Non-Submersible:
Asynchronous
Synchronous

Powerhead Features

In this overview powerheads will be classified as outlined above. Reviews under each category will be done in alphabetical order by manufacturer. All data will be metric, as this is the standard of the world at large and the scientific community. For some powerheads data may be incomplete and this will be noted with NA (Not Available). For each powerhead the following categories will be considered: model, maximum flow, maximum head, wattage, efficiency (defined as (max flow in l/h * maximum head in m)/ power consumption in watts) - the higher the number the greater the efficiency. High efficiency can generally be interpreted to mean less heat production in the case of submersible powerheads. These efficiency numbers have no real intrinsic meaning or value - they are simply a way to do a relative comparison of two or more pumps. The ideal powerhead would have a high flow, a modest head pressure, low wattage and all numbers together should provide an efficiency rating of at least 150 if not 200. For the purposes of circulation in reef aquaria, flow is important. Head pressure generally equates to shearing force. It is the shearing force or collision of still water along with a high pressure jet of water that may destroy live plankton. It can also be assumed that if two pumps of the same flow are compared and one uses a greater number of watts of power, the higher wattage unit will produce more heat insofar as the extra waste energy is converted to heat. Safety marks consist of safety approval certifications by various agencies. Safety marks generally mean a product will be of higher quality. Some companies may choose to forego safety marks because it compromises a product feature to comply with one part of the code or another, or adds to the expense of the product. Regardless of marks, an aquarium-use powerhead should be epoxy sealed, constructed with a suitable cord and offer thermostatic or impedance protection.

Abbreviations:
CE = Conformity Europe
UL = Underwriters Laboratory
ETL = Electronics Testing Laboratory
CSA = Canadian Safety Administration
CUL = Canadian Underwriters Laboratory
VDE = Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker

Numerous other safety marks exist for almost every country; many of these pumps conform to additional standards as well, which are not listed. MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price; this price is only for getting a feeling of pricing differences between products. Where an MSRP was not provided, a good faith estimate based on retail, wholesale and mail-order pricing is provided. For European pumps, price in Euros was converted to dollars at the rate of 1 Euro to $1.17.

Synchronous Submersible Pumps:

AquaBee
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
UP3000a
3000 l/h
2.40m
45
160.00
VDE/CE
$77.17
UP2000a
2000 l/h
1.60m
18
177.78
VDE/CE
$59.23
UP1000a
1000 l/h
1.30m
10
130.00
VDE/CE
$38.61
UP500a
500 l/h
1.20m
5
120.00
VDE/CE
$29.31
UP300a
300 l/h
0.60m
4
45.00
VDE/CE
$23.32

Aquaclear Aquatics
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
CAP5000
4600 l/h
4.00m
105
175.24
 
$129.99
CAP2200
2200 l/h
2.40m
33
160.00
 
$49.99
CAP1800
1800 l/h
2.10m
29
130.34
 
$39.99
CAP1200
1050 l/h
1.50m
16
98.44
 
$34.99
CAP800
800 l/h
1.20m
14
68.57
 
$29.99

Aquarium Systems/Marineland
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
MP1200
1110 l/h
1.74m
20
96.57
UL/CSL/CE
$42.85
MP900
870 l/h
1.17m
8.5
119.75
UL/CSL/CE
$38.40
MP600
600 l/h
1.35m
7.5
108
UL/CSL/CE
$32.85
MP400
400 l/h
0.73m
5
58.4
UL/CSL/CE
$27.99

Azoo
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
2500
2500 l/h
2.75m
38
180.92
ETL/CE
$39.99
1800
1800 l/h
2.25m
33
122.73
ETL/CE
$29.99
1200
1200 l/h
N/A
N/A
N/A
ETL/CE
$19.99
600
600 l/h
N/A
N/A
N/A
ETL/CE
$14.99
180
180 l/h
N/A
N/A
N/A
ETL/CE
$12.99

Eheim
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
1212
650 l/h
0.43m
6
46.58
UL/CSA/CE/VDE
$29.99

Hagen
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
901
3400 l/h
2.00m
62
109.68
UL/CSA1
$130.00
802
1514 l/h
1.70m
20
128.69
UL/CSA1
$63.00
402
990 l/h
1.30m
12
107.25
UL/CSA1
$51.00
301
660 l/h
0.90m
8
74.25
UL/CSA1
$40.00
201
480 l/h
0.70m
6
56.00
UL/CSA1
$33.60

JBL
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
Proflow1000a
1000 l/h
1.48m
13.8
107.25
CE
$31.66
Proflow750a
670 l/h
1.65m
7.5
147.40
CE
$26.44
Proflow500a
490 l/h
0.95m
6
77.58
CE
$22.59

Oscar Enterprises
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
Dive Power 400
1500 l/h
1.34m
24
83.75
ETL
N/A
Dive Power 200
750 l/h
.89m
5.6
119.20
ETL
N/A
Dive Power 125
475 l/h
.64m
7.6
40.00
ETL
N/A
Dive Power 85
320 l/h
.46m
4.6
32.00
ETL
N/A
Dive Power 40
150 l/h
.58m
3.7
23.51
ETL
N/A

Otto
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
PH2000
2000 l/h
2.60m
25
208.00
N/A
$42.32
PH1200
1200 l/h
2.10m
20
126.00
N/A
$40.58
PH800
800 l/h
1.60m
8
160.00
N/A
$18.71
PH600
600 l/h
1.35m
7.4
109.46
N/A
$17.18
PH400
400 l/h
1.00m
7.2
55.56
N/A
$16.59
PH200
200 l/h
0.90m
6.5
27.69
N/A
$15.99

PennPlax
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
Mako
760 l/h
N/A
8.6
N/A
UL
N/A
Tiger Shark
570 l/h
N/A
6.7
N/A
UL
N/A

Rio
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
3100
3420 l/h
3.00m
78
131.54
 
$69.99
2500HP
2843 l/h
3.00m
52
164.01
UL1
$59.99
2100
2630 l/h
2.50m
39
168.59
UL1
$54.99
1700
2440 l/h
2.50m
28
217.86
UL1
$49.99
1400
1528 l/h
1.80m
27
101.87
 
$39.99
1100
1273 l/h
1.80m
22
104.15
 
$34.99
800HP
802 l/h
1.50m
12
100.25
UL/CUL/CE2
$27.99
600
760 l/h
1.20m
9.5
96.00
UL/CUL/CE2
$24.99
400
547 l/h
1.10m
6.5
92.57
UL/CUL/CE2
$21.99
200
524 l/h
0.60m
6
52.40
UL/CUL/CE2
$19.99
180
456 l/h
0.90m
3.5
117.26
UL/CUL/CE2
$17.99
90
323 l/h
0.60m
3
64.60
UL/CUL/CE2
$14.99
50
262 l/h
0.30m
5
15.72
UL/CUL/CE2
$12.99

Selzle
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
P1100a
1100 l/h
N/A
21
N/A
N/A
$89.74
P800a
800 l/h
N/A
10
N/A
N/A
$57.33
P400a
400 l/h
N/A
7.5
N/A
N/A
$29.89

Tunze
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
3000/2
3000 l/h
1.50m
21
204.55
VDE
$160.65
1600/2
1620 l/h
1.30m
12
175.50
VDE
$110.45
1000/2
1080 l/h
1.20m
7
185.15
VDE
$88.70
600/2a
630 l/h
1.20m
4
189.00
VDE
$66.38

ViaAqua
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
VA306
2000 l/h
1.80m
35
102.86
 
$27.99
VA305
1200 l/h
1.50m
18
100.00
 
$19.99
VA302
500 l/h
0.60m
6
50.00
 
$14.99
VA301
300 l/h
0.30m
2.7
33.33
 
$12.99

ZooMed
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
PS228
1050 l/h
N/A
23
N/A
CSA
$54.99
PS226
720 l/h
N/A
17
N/A
CSA
$43.99
PS214
600 l/h
N/A
11.5
N/A
CSA
$29.99
PS212
450 l/h
N/A
9
N/A
CSA
$27.99

Submersible Electronic Pumps:

AquaBee
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
UP3000E
3000 l/h
3.5m
28
375.00
VDE
$277.29
UP2000E
2000 l/h
2.5m
15
333.33
VDE
$245.70

Tunze
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
7400/2
4000 l/h
2.80m
44
254.55
VDE
$256.38
7300/2
3000 l/h
2.00m
22
272.73
VDE
$230.71
7200/2
2400 l/h
1.30m
13
240
VDE
$200.58

Non-Submersible Synchronous Pumps:

Hi Tech
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
Hi Tech
2800 l/h
N/A
15
N/A
 
$59.99

Non-Submersible Asynchronous Pumps:

Fischer
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
TKP3500a
3500 l/h
N/A
46
N/A
N/A
$203.22
TKP2000a
2000 l/h
N/A
46
N/A
N/A
$174.81
TKP1300a
1300 l/h
N/A
36
N/A
N/A
$146.12

IKS
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
Turbo 3500
3500 l/h
N/A
46
N/A
N/A
$235.00
Turbo 2000
2000 l/h
N/A
46
N/A
N/A
$235.00

Tunze
Model
Max Flow
Max Head
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
4002
3700 l/h
1.45m
42
127.73
VDE
$254.73
2002
2400 l/h
1.30m
38
82.11
VDE
$216.65

Broad Flow Powerheads

The latest trend in the aquarium industry has been toward broad flow powerheads. These powerheads are the first such pumps deliberately built for reef aquariums. They simulate a natural broad flow pattern and are of great benefit in the maintenance of many corals; SPS corals in particular, seem to benefit from this broad flow pattern. The reviews omit head pressure, as this is not really applicable; these are low-pressure pumps. Efficiency is simply given as maximum flow divided by watts. The ReefTec pump listed is a do-it-yourself kit and as such the qualities will vary more as a result of model of pump chosen and the manner/method of assembly.

Broad Flow Submersible Synchronous Powerheads:

ATK
Model
Max Flow
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
BlackJeta
20000 l/h
45
444.44
N/A
$837.97
BlackJeta
16000 l/h
36
444.44
N/A
$837.97
BlackJeta
12000 l/h
33
363.64
N/A
$837.97

ReefTec
Model
Max Flow
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
PE-2
Approx 7000 l/h
DIY
DIY
DIY
Approx $120
PE-1
Approx 5000 l/h
DIY
DIY
DIY
Approx $90

Tunze
Model
Max Flow
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
6080
8500 l/h
21
404.76
VDE
$184.77
6060
6000 l/h
15
400
VDE
$127.03

Broad Flow Submersible Electronic Powerheads:

Tunze
Model
Max Flow
Watts
Efficiency
Safety Marks
MSRP
6100
12000 l/h
45
266.67
VDE
$308.27
6000
7000 l/h
15
466.67
VDE
$240.70

Key to superscripts:
a- 230v 50Hz only- Unless stated wattage is for 115V 60Hz models
1-Conformity standard product is optional and at extra expense
2-Special low voltage conformity standard product available at extra expense



If you have any questions about this article, please visit my author forum on Reef Central.




ReefKeeping Magazine™ Reef Central, LLC. Copyright © 2002

An Overview of Powerhead Choices Available to the Reef Hobbyist - ReefKeeping.com